Theater Review: ‘Oliver Parker!’
People cope with personal tragedy in different ways—from denial to drugs to trying to fix what they should really stay far away from. Such is the scenario presented in Elizabeth Meriwether’s fascinating black comedy Oliver Parker!
Jasper (John Larroquette) is a 60-year-old drunk living in an apartment that looks like it should have been condemned a long time ago. Amidst the endless clutter and bug-infested food, there’s a general sense of hopelessness about the place, one also evident in Jasper himself.
Jasper cares about one person, 17-year-old Oliver Parker (Michael Zegen). Oliver soon turns up bringing a supply of food and berating Jasper (something he has obviously done many times before) for not picking up the pieces of his home and life. (Oliver also pays the rent for the place, his family being quite rich.)